Will build alliance to oust BJP: Left

Ludhiana: CPI and CPM leaders slammed the Centre during a function at Issru on Wednesday. They claimed that the Left parties will strive to build a strong alliance to oust the RSS-guided BJP government from the Centre. The leaders said since this government had come to power, hardships of people had increased because of high prices, job freeze and falling wages. None of the promises made by them in the 2014 elections had been fulfilled, they said. District secretary, CPI, Ludhiana, DP Maur said: “The rate of unemployment has doubled in the past few years. Rupee has fallen to the lowest-ever 70 rupees plus against the US dollar.” “Despite the fact that oil prices had fallen to 1/4th in the international market, the petrol and diesel prices have gone sky high. Having failed on all fronts and fearing alienation from people, they are outrightly splitting society on communal lines to garner votes. All constitutional bodies, including judiciary, are being undermined,” said Maur. “It is condemnable that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his misters are lying on Rafle deal. They are defending those involved in Vyapam scam in which nearly 60 persons, including the whistleblowers, have been killed. It is time they have to be thrown out,” they said. Prominent among those who addressed the gathering included comrades Bant Singh Brar, Dr Joginder Dayal, Raghunath Singh, Lehmber Singh Taggar, Gurnam Kanwar, Kartar Singh Bowani, Gulzar Singh Goria and DP Maur.

LIP holds protest against drugs

The Lok Insaaf Party (LIP) carried out a protest march against drug menace at Issru on Wednesday. After paying tributes at the statue of martyr Karnail Singh Issru, LIP chief-cum-Atam Nagar MLA Simarjit Singh Bains said they wanted to make Punjab drug-free that’s why they had decided to mark this day by holding a protest rally against drug menace.

Bains said Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh had held Sri Gutka Sahib and vowed to end drug menace within four weeks after coming into power, but nothing had been done. “The cases are being registered against the addicts who carry a little amount of drug, but the actual kingpin who run drugs mafia are being spared by the Captain government,” he said.

He said Capt Amarinder Singh has handed over inquiry regarding the Behbal Kalan firing incident to the CBI to protect Badals. He said the names of four police personnel had been included in the FIR, but the then Home Minister of Punjab, Sukhbir Singh Badal, was spared. The name of Sukhbir Singh Badal should be included in the FIR as he was responsible for the incident, Bains alleged.

He also criticised the ‘pol khol’ rally of SAD at Issru. He alleged that the Akalis had looted Punjab in their tenure of 10 years. It was shameful that they were organising ‘pol khol’ rally on this day, he said.